Service outlet box for trailer vehicles



Nov. 4, 1952 E. L. WHITE SERVICE OUTLET BOX FOR TRAILER VEHICLES 2 SPEETS-SHEET 1 Filed Dec. 13, 1950 w n 0 H A Nov. 4, 1952 E. WHITE SERVICE OUTLET BOX FOR TRAILER VEHICLES 2 Sl-lEETSSI-IEET 2 Filed Dec. 13, 1950 In 'm'nlor A tlorney Patented Nov. 4, 1952 SERVICE OUTLET BOX FOR TRAILER VEHICLES Edwin L. White, Atlanta, Ga., assignor to Dorsey Trailers, Inc., Elba; Ala.

bama

, a corporation of Ala- Application December 13, 1950, Serial No. 200,550

ing readily moved to an open position so that the parts supported thereby are completely accessible.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of this character by the use of which the assembly of the brake connections and electrical connections are all grouped in a conven-' ient position externally of a trailer vehicle and in one single location so that no diiiiculty can be encountered in locating said connections for servicing thereby reducing to a minimum delays due to necessary servicing of such parts.

Variousother objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafter become more fully apparent from the following description of the drawings, illustrating a presently preferred embodiment thereof, and wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the invention applied to a portion of the exterior of a trailer vehicle and in a closed position;

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 but showing the outlet box in an open position;

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially along a plane as indicated by the line 33 of Figure l, and

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view looking toward the inner side of the outlet box, taken substantially along a plane as indicated by the line 4-4 of Figure 3.

Referring more specifically to the drawings, the service outlet box in its entirety and comprising the invention is designated generally 5 and is illustrated in Figures 1 to 3 mounted on an exterior vertical wall portion 6 constituting a part of a trailer vehicle or van, a portion of which has been illustrated in Figure 3 and designated generally I. The outlet box 5 is preferably mounted on the front wall of the van or trailer vehicle adjacent its bottom edge, as illustrated in Figure 3.

The outlet box 5 includes an elongated bracket or plate 8 which is fixed to the outer surface of the wall 6 along one of its longitudinal edges and which projects outwardly therefrom in sub- 55 5 Claims. (01.174 52) a 2 may be provided with a brace 9 and said bracket and brace may be secured to the wall 6, as by welding as indicated at I0 in Figure 3.

The outlet box includes a body portion or cover, designated generally ll having a bottom edge provided withlongitudinally spaced hinge barrels l2 which mate with hinge barrels l3 formed on the outer, free edge of the plate or bracket 8. A hinge pin 14 extends through the aligned hinge barrels l2 and I3 for swingably supporting the body member or cover II on the bracket 8. The outer wall of the cover II includes an upper portion l5 and a lower portion It which is'disposed at an obtuse angle to the: wall portion [5 and which extends upwardly and outwardly from said bracket 8 when the cover orbody portion II is in a closed position, as seen in Figures 1 and 3. The outer wall l5, I6 is substantially triangular in shape and is provided with complementary side walls ll which project inwardly therefrom and which extend from adjacent the bottom edge of the wall portion l6, which is provided with the hinge barrels l2 upwardly in converging relationship. Said side walls I! merge integrally at the upper end or apex of the wall portion I5. The outer or free edge 18 of the side walls I! is disposed entirely in the same plane but the width of said walls -ll diminish toward the bottom edge of the wall portion I6 to correspond with its oblique disposition relatively to the wall portion [5. A sealing gasket 19, preferably formed of rubber and of channel shaped cross section engages the outer free edge [8 of the side walls ll from end-to-end thereof and constitutes an uninterrupted sealing member of substantially inverted V-shape in cross section, as seen in Figure 4, the ends of which, together with the lower ends of the edges l8, extend downwardly to or slightly beneath the level of the bracket 8, as seen in Figure 4.

The'outer wall portion [6 is provided with laterally spaced openings 20. A fuse block 2| of any conventional construction is secured in any manner, preferably by self tapping metal screws 22, to the inner side of the wall portion l6, between the openings 20. The wall portion 15 is provided adjacent its apex with a small opening 23. Said portion l5, below the opening 23, is provided with a larger opening 24 which is interposed between two laterally spaced openings 25.

A conventional electric socket assembly is mounted on the outer side of the wall portion l5, beneath the opening 23, one conventional. type of such electric socket assembly, desig- 2,816,945 9 3 4 nated generally 26 is shown in Figures 1, 3 and electric fixtures of the trailer vehicle'or van 1, 4 including a mounting plate 2'! which is seboth of which operations can be accomplished cured to the outer side of the wall portion IS with the cover H in a closed position. In the by fastenings 28 and which contains an elecevent that servicing of any of the parts supported tric socket 29 which extends inwardly through by the cover II are required, the nut 4| can be the opening z; and is supported.in saidlopening1 removedireleasingt, the cover somthatait can be by the wall portion l5 and plate 26. Theplateswung outwardly and downwardly;-onritsrihinge 2B is provided with an opening 36 which aligns I2, l3, M to an open, substantially horizontal with the socket 29. Opening 30 is normally closed position as seen in Figure 2, thus aifording full by a cover plate 3|, illustrated as the type which loand ready access to the parts supported on the is hinged to the outer side of the platesifiraboveq innenxside ofwthei-icover II for any servicing and the opening 30 by a spring hinge 32 which norrepair required. It will likewise be apparent that mally urges the cover platen-"$1. downwardly/ iso no. part 02 ,the outlet, vbox 5 can be lost should a closed position. However, otherltyp es; vofi 'elec the attendant .inadvertently fail to secure the trio socket assemblies may be mounted on the Cover in a closedtlposition after servicing of the wall portion I5 including those havin u a slid; Portsv ing closure in lieu of the hinge closure 3&3 Va1=10uS*m0d1fiUat10nS a C s a e con- The contacts 33 of the socket 29 areconnected; mple fid a y Obviously be ed o, Withto the contacts 34 of the fuse block 2| by electri- 0111i departing from the spirit or S ODG 0f the cal I conductors, 35. The various. ,eleetricakfix; tur'es,, not shown, of fthe., trailer zvehiclew or vanr, l are connected tto the socket ifiq l'throughflthe n V Sjmy i Ye t Omq fuse block 2i ina conventional mannerqb'y elec-f -"iA'g e e u e xx o ai h e' trical.conductorsilfas -seen in Figure 2,,which, omp i i gfa13 21 6 mo tion; a COYerfand extendthrouglnan opening,pinmthe, van walh'zs N so 5 1; n X L nd D TQ'fi 5 andjwhich a providedwwith' ample slack. jecting outwardlyirom sai'dwvehicle -wallpore, hat h -b y p rtion or, cover. I l imay-v eswung. iq u he v r nfi l d n i u e r e li av n' from. its. vposition of Figure 1 downwardly to, its; 7 a bQZ Q e e 5 .151. v j' eine iihin dly' 0 1 open-positionof Figure 2; etted t-ii w tQm d e r ut sepi fi A pair of conventional brake connections 38.: 3o d' l Qke?.' 9 L n n ovement i m an; is securedwtqtthewall portion lii, eachextending upri ht, closed pos itiolnioutwardly"and down throughwoneof the openings v 2E2 thereon he a 31 1 ,331 61. iPQSitiQnk iQLCQ C i' ali l gf j inner jen d s pf the brak c onngqtipns 38.3 113 eaql T side walls extending inwardly from its" 0111181 conneeter iuto a bijakefhose 39whic'h,D j l d n a in -s d hicle. l ort n a th efr -throu ;the openinglas'; Tnehoses 35 mbini j it "sa d hicle a 1 men n; t e 39 ,likewiseL-haye sufiicient 'slackto permitfithe rckqtyan j overtojorm aghousing fastening; cover 1 l. to, be swun rdownw n i ywto; its ,open an ecur f l ndi i ct ne f 0m id 'v position ofjF igure2.7 The oppositelends(of the. 111016" wall.porti'onfith 'ougl the cover 'anddetach brake .conneetidns 38, disposed eigternallyiotigt-he, y r a ni l QV T, l fa o i. o it 1 cover ll areiadapted to bef cqupie-djr'to,matinggio eai sti e e l allisp r qnilan; e e i brakelconne ctions. t shown, .of a man; ,veliicle, ck t ounted p e 3 1 J- a l. fgjsaid co er The brakeiconnections 38,I'are sof, convention l and opening,outwardlyithreQf and adapted to t construction and ha e beenv illustrated a pf; the 51 be tachably onn c ed .w n e ct plus-:5 high r111wSsure, an:type;howev r,fother types of xib eeconnectors I' QII ectric fixtures i ne conyentional brake c nnection usuch as these 45 a r,v icl connec edtdi 'e-J nn re dib sa d? mploy d, .1. t a vacuum b ake. ystem; may; ocke i brakec ou lines nnected; I';I- 1d x-J equally a well-,jbe. supported vin tn sametman e n ing throu -Q1 1?b i hec ve ;:flex? onlthe coverj I .hoses,.,fixten inet.i t mtend qnneqt itqlt e Aboltflilis .anchoreclto and ro qcts utwardrf n J mi a d'y iake ri n ec qrsxa i vi aid lyfromthe-wallportion,,5 iandgextendsoutwardlmso Walk' er ion,.l ar ner n pe inexthr ueh' through the, 0penfilgs23TWhen the cover 'I I; is in hic he ;hs a d flex b e co nec o o s ly a phased-position, asseen in' Figures l and extend; A vw n nut, 4|, ith eadedlyengages tlre threadedi" ze cgrs rvice utlet .bq s lWm mTiL 231138 terminal portion of the bolt lil a d is tightened -1 aske ip 'i hann henejnm s' eqt ono neaeine ainst the-walln01 onm 5v oho d'ltheic Q11 5 free'edges ewa l OfJihe QVer and. member H in a closed position flIldJWithfL j c amneiir etwe n T hQ Q IL iQQ fi l 1i gasket vI9 c pressed against the outer side of i the walllj.portiongof the trailerjwhen'tlie covergis 'se-j wall portionfi so that said Wall portiongandwgover; Cured ingaclosed D t QI T for 'sealin'gthe i ElT Q -Y memberml l7 combinent iorrn; the servic'e outle of the cover. box having a chamber 42 in which the fuse blookigo 3.\Av sertvice.outlet boxwasinoclaim 1,.a sealing ZI andYthe innervends1ofthe=socket 29i andtbr ake gasket.ofwchanneleshape cross section engaging connections .38 are housed Land whichgis sealedfl the fnee edges ofcthe. side wallslof thecover. and. .7 except ionjthe..openingflfi whichopensiriwnandlis clamped; between. the eoyeraside mugged saidii of they-an l so that sai p r s areprot ctedii -om; wall portionbf the.trailer :whenthercovenis se-- the velements- -v-and from dirt--;or; other uforeigi tfi cured in -a.closedposition.iorQ sealing the interion matter. 2 fthecover,;saidsidewalls.havingtupwardly-cona" From the ioregoingrit will be readily apparent verging ,correspondingi;portionsmergiilgeatwth thatbrake connections, not shown-, from'a drafts toppfthecovenand atending downwardlyth'e re-Q vehicle may be readilyeoupled to the outei vends a? from andfoverlapping -theiends ofisaidt-bracket at of ,v b a c io s, a dthe $Br-j ,7 the lowerends of said cover sidewausg may be elevated so that an electric plug 43, lead r-t eryiceuo tl tub xlf g r having, an ing' from; the current source not shown of a cute walliandla pairy ofside; wallstextendingiindraft wehicle may be-inserted through the-open: wandly ro ni theouter-wall, said side wallsicona. s-:30. a d-e a ed w th- 3$ -1Z9 Fi 4aP YO- erein war 11nd ;inl gilig ali an-l llppen'iendrofne.-.=a -.x ectrice emiectienatqa. echi a me c less-Wallis b kettp a es eumd and prevjecting outwardly from a wall of the trailer, the opposite lower end of the outer wall being pivotally connected to the outer edge of the bracket plate for swingably supporting the box on the outer side of the trailer wall, said bracket plate closing the bottom of the box and being disposed between the opposite ends of the side walls when the box is in a closed position, means detachably connecting said box at its upper end to the trailer wall, said box having an open side held in engagement with said trailer wall and closed thereby when connected to said means, said box being adapted to support brake and electrical connections in protected positions therein when the box is maintained in a closed position by said means, and said box being swingable downwardly and outwardly to an open position to expose the brake and electrical connections for servicing when disengaged from said means.

5. A service outlet box for trailers adapted to support brake and electrical connections in protected positions, comprising an upright trailer wall portion forming an inner wall of the box, a bracket plate secured to and extending outwardly from said wall portion constituting a stationary bottom of the box, and a movable box section consisting of an outer wall and a pair of side walls secured to the outer wall, said side walls merging REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 896,854 Parsons Aug. 25, 1908 1,169,187 Pearl et a1 Jan. 25, 1916 1,176,515 Bissell et al Mar. 21, 1916 1,526,870 Sampson Feb. 17, 1925 2,379,226 Frey June 26, 1945 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 114,054 Great Britain Mar. 21, 1918 

